Cold War (and beyond) Vehicle I-D: Suomalaiset Sisu XA-203, XA-180M, 90M Crotale & 6×6

The XA series of armored vehicles first came alive back in 1980, during the unofficial Cold War, when Finland was part of the Soviet ‘Eastern Bloc’.  They were made by a company called Suomen Autoteollisuus, which became Sisu Auto in 1981, which then became Sisu Defense in 1995, which then became Patria in 1997.  Today Finland still uses the XA series of vehicles, and despite Finland being an officially ‘non-aligned’ country, it allows, and even takes part in, NATO wargames on its soil.

The XA numbers change depending on specific versions, and foreign users.

Finnish XA-180 working as part of the IFOR mission in Bosnia & Herzegovina. U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Luis A. Deya, dated March 1996.

A Finnish officer explains the electronics on his XA-180 Command Post to U.S. Army personnel in Lager Aulenbach, Germany. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Jim Varhegyi, 09MAY2000.

The Patria Pasi XA-180M is the latest version of the original Sisu Pasi XA-180 from 1980.  Everything was upgraded, including the armored body.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Does the ‘M’ in XA-180M stand for mud? Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces XA-180M promotional video from 2014, including sliding it on ice, and notice that a motorcycle looking clear shield is used on the TC coupala:

The XA-181 was used to create the 90M (aka ITO90) Crotale anti-aircraft system.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo.

2014 Puolustusvoimat video explaining Finland’s air defense systems, including the ITO90:

The newer XA-202 and XA-203 were first delivered in 2003. The XA-202 has more interior room than the XA-203, and is used mainly as a command post/communications vehicle.  The Puolustusvoimat says the 202/203 were developed specifically for ‘crisis management operations’.

XA-203 during NATO’s Trident Juncture 2018 in Norway. Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 30OCT2018.

Finnish XA-203 crews prep their vehicles in Sweden for road-march to next-door Norway. Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Sergeant Alec Orko, 27OCT2018.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 26OCT2018.

Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces photo by Ville Multanen, 26OCT2018.

2018 Puolustusvoimat video showing XA-203 ops in Sweden, and they finally admit they are a NATO ‘partner’:

See more XA-203 Patria Pasi (apparently there is no English equivalent for Pasi) in SUOMALAISET LEOPARDIT JA SISU PASI JA CV9030 JA MTLB JA 2S1 JA BMP-2 JA AMOS.

But the XA-203 is already outdated, and in 2018 Patria introduced a new ‘Pasi’ to replace it.  Currently the prototype is simply called the 6×6.

Patria photo.

In August 2021, Puolustusvoimat / Finnish Defense Forces agreed to buy ‘pre-series’ 6×6 vehicles, as part of a joint program with Latvia and Estonia.

Patria photo.

Patria promotional video for their new AMV & 6×6 vehicles:

Specifically the 6×6:

120mm Nemo artillery system mounted in a 6×6, fire on the move:

Even robot versions:

Vehicle I-D: FINLAND’S SP GUNS 155 PSH K9 & 122 PSH 74